Roadmap 2022

Masina Hospital is a 270-bedded Parsi-Trust run, multi-specialty, secular hospital set up in 1902 in Byculla, Mumbai, offering primary, secondary, and tertiary solutions in healthcare. The hospital has various high-end medical and surgical departments, viz., cardiac sciences, neurosciences, renal sciences, oncology, orthopedics, Ob-Gyn, pediatrics, mental wellness, burns, ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry, day-care services, diagnostics, etc. It cumulatively treats about 150 in-patients and around 100 out-patients on a daily basis. It is in the forefront of treating patients in the current Covid pandemic and is, indeed, amongst the very few hospitals in the country to have also treated patients during the Spanish Flu, over a century ago.

At the time of writing this, Mumbai is well in the grip of the third wave of Covid pandemic and Masina Hospital has re-opened its Covid ward to treat the afflicted patients. Piped medical oxygen, high-flow nasal cannula, and all the necessary Covid drugs are also available for the treatment of the admitted Covid patients.

As an on-going process, the hospital does not believe in resting on its laurels and currently, the hospital is in the process of implementing a major renovation project for all its eight operation theaters, the upper and general wards, dialysis unit, endoscopy suites, cosmetology, and other medical areas. The hospital is continuously moving toward a pathway of growth and expansion. In terms of bio-medical equipment, all the OTs have been made modular with HEPA filters, laminar air-flow, modern OT tables and lights, overhead cameras for recording and broadcasting, and integrated IT systems with real-time projections on monitors. Modern laparoscopy sets with trolleys are in all OTs. The dialysis unit is acquiring a new RO plant, dialysis machines, and dialysis beds and couches. Motorized beds, overhead panels, and monitored beds for all ward categories are also being implemented.

Keeping in line with the modern global trends, the hospital is integrating all the medical records into an EMR system, which is doctor-, patient-, and staff-friendly. This will also help the hospital in properly analyzing the vast amount of medical data it has generated and continues to generate over the years. This will help the hospital in telemedicine and virtual care programs, which allow doctors to consult and monitor patients remotely and track and store health records and other patient information for all stakeholders, viz., patients, doctors, and the hospital. This password-enabled information will also be available on the smart mobiles of the necessary people. The IT team will play a key role in not only implementing this but also developing policies for all IT-enabled solutions. Enabling asset tagging/management will also be a vital policy to implement for Masina Hospital during this current year.

Masina Hospital is also a recognized research center, with a valid DUNS-registered certificate, which qualifies it to participate in international pharma trials. Pharmaceutical and other medical companies develop new drugs and treatments through their research efforts but are also increasingly turning to hospital alliances and trials to help them bring these new therapies to the common people. Masina Hospital regularly conducts such trials and will further expand its foray into this critical area.

Once the pandemic is over, Masina Hospital also is looking to leverage into the medical tourism market (both international and domestic). According to a report released by the NITI Aayog, healthcare has become one of the largest sectors of the Indian economy, and is expected to reach USD 372 billion in 2022; it is growing around 22 percent every year since 2016. This offers opportunities to not only hospitals but also diagnostic companies, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices and home healthcare solutions. “Healthcare has become one of the largest sectors of the Indian economy, in terms of both revenue and employment. The sector has the potential to generate 2.7 million additional jobs in India between 2017 and 2022 – over 500,000 new jobs per year,” it said.

Masina Hospital is equanimous and well-positioned to effectively cater to the medical and healthcare needs of the entire range of the Indian population, and 2022 shall be an eventful year to realize its fulfillment.

The author is Jt. CEO, Masina Hospital Trust.